Deke Slayton

Donald Kent "Deke" Slayton (March 1, 1924 – June 13, 1993) was a United States Air Force pilot, aeronautical engineer, and test pilot who was selected as one of the original NASA Mercury Seven astronauts. He went on to become NASA's first Chief of the Astronaut Office and Director of Flight Crew Operations.

Donald K. Slayton
File:Slayton.jpg Slayton in 1973
Born	Donald Kent Slayton (1924-03-01)March 1, 1924 Sparta, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died	June 13, 1993(1993-06-13) (aged 69) League City, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	United States
Other names	Deke Slayton
Alma mater	University of Minnesota, B.S. 1949
Awards	20px 20px Collier Trophy James H. Doolittle Award
Space career
NASA Astronaut
Previous occupation	Bomber pilot, test pilot
Rank	25px Major, USAF
Time in space	9d 01h 28m
Selection	1959 NASA Group 1
Missions	Apollo–Soyuz Test Project
Mission insignia	55px
Retirement	February 27, 1982
Signature
150px

Slayton died on June 13, 1993 in League City, Texas from brain cancer, aged 69.

Deke Slayton Media

• Donald K. Slayton (WW II).jpg

  Deke Slayton as a bomber pilot during World War II

• Astronaut Deke Slayton during World War II - GPN-2004-00028.jpg

  Deke Slayton (right) beside a Douglas A-26 bomber

• Donald K. Slayton (1960).jpg

  Portrait of Donald K. Slayton

• Deke Slayton (on stool at left), Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins during the last pre-flight press conference.jpg

  Deke Slayton (on stool at left) and the Apollo 11 crew during the last pre-flight press conference

• Astronaut Donald K. Slayton and cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov in the Soyuz Orbital Module.jpg

  Deke Slayton (right) with cosmonaut Alexei Leonov in the Soyuz spacecraft

• Deke Slayton in 1981.jpg

  Portrait of Deke Slayton in 1981 as manager of the space shuttle Orbital Flight Test program.